Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance of the UAE, today met with Suzan Kereere, President of Global Markets at PayPal, a leading digital payment platform. During the meeting, Sheikh Maktoum congratulated PayPal on the inauguration of its new regional hub in Dubai Internet City, emphasizing Dubai’s commitment to supporting its growth in the region. This hub will serve as PayPal’s operational base for 80 countries in the Middle East and Africa.
According to Emirates News Agency, Sheikh Maktoum highlighted the UAE’s ambition to be at the forefront of the global shift towards a digital economy. He emphasized Dubai’s goal to create a dynamic financial ecosystem that encourages innovation, safeguards trust, and opens opportunities across borders. The discussions included potential partnerships in digital payment systems, supporting SMEs and e-commerce growth, and enhancing cross-border financial connectivity, leveraging the UAE’s strengths in the industry.
Sheikh Maktoum pointed out that Dubai’s advanced regulatory environment and digital infrastructure make it an ideal base for global financial institutions looking to expand into emerging markets. PayPal’s expanding operations in the region, with Dubai as its base, reflect the city’s rising status as a hub for next-generation financial services. This aligns with Dubai’s progress towards becoming one of the world’s top four financial centers under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Since its founding in 1998, PayPal has served over 430 million customers across more than 200 markets, facilitating secure digital transactions. The company processed nearly $1.7 trillion in payment volume and recorded $31.8 billion in net revenue in 2024.
The meeting was attended by Helal Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; Hesham Al Qassim, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates NBD; and Malek Al Malek, Chairman of TECOM Group.